Wetzel Succeeds Korbich in The Drowsy Chaperone, 5/22

Broadway's Tony Award-winning hit musical The Drowsy Chaperone will welcome original cast member Patrick Wetzel to the role of best man "George" on Tuesday, May 22nd  at the Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway). Wetzel assumes the role from original cast member Eddie Korbich, who departs to begin rehearsals to play "Scuttle" in the new stage production of Disney's The Little Mermaid.

Broadway veteran Patrick Wetzel has appeared in The Producers, Thou Shalt Not, Annie Get Your Gun and Ain't Broadway Grand, as well as Stephen Sondheim's "Opening Doors" at Carnegie Hall and productions of Golden Boy and The Pajama Game at City Center. His touring credits include the national companies of The Producers in Los Angeles and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with Donny Osmond.

The Drowsy Chaperone received the most 2006 Tony Awards of any musical -five in total, including Best Book and Best Score, seven Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, four Outer Critic's Circle Awards including Outstanding Score and the Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical. The musical is directed and choreographed by Tony Award-nominee Casey Nicholaw (Spamalot), with music and lyrics by Tony Award winners Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and a book by Tony Award-winners Bob Martin and Don McKellar.

"To chase his blues away, a modern day musical theatre addict known simply as 'Man in Chair' drops the needle on his favorite cast album – the 1928 musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone. From the crackle of his hi-fi, the uproariously funny musical magically bursts to life on stage. We are instantly immersed in the hilarious tale of a glamorous bride and her uproarious wedding day, complete with thrills and surprises that take both the cast (literally) and the audience (metaphorically) soaring into the heavens. Man in Chair's infectious love of The Drowsy Chaperone speaks to anyone who has ever been transported by the theater," state press materials.

The show is produced by Kevin McCollum, Roy Miller, Boyett Ostar, Stephanie McClelland, Barbara Freitag and Jill Furman.

Visit www.DrowsyChaperone.com for more information.

Photo of Patrick Wetzel (Gypsy Robe Winner for The Drowsy Chaperone) by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.